OCR Text |
Show OOMML'SICATKD. I'lVlL RUiUTS. It really would seem that nations have to pass through similar phases in their history, so universally is it line that those who hold governmental govern-mental power cppoe themstlvca to freedom of thought in matters of rs-Hgieu. rs-Hgieu. It whs loudly hoped by advanced ad-vanced thinkers and advocatca ol civil and religious liberty in the older nations na-tions of Eiiropo that on this couiiuent there would be found an exception to the known experience of sgea. That with the rise of this great republic, which kings and tyrants dreaded, there would be at least one nation where religious intolerance would he unknown. The antecedent an-tecedent of the nation an 1 the glorious constitution, fr;nud by its founders, j unified nieu in ibis conclusion. con-clusion. Ii whs to be expecttd that the desceudsnts of noble eiree, who had been expatriated fioru the older count lies for conscience suke, would every creed. TDat these who dictattd the magna e cbaitaof the west, the constitution of these United Slates, had such intention inten-tion is stamped upon the face of the , instrument itself. The spirit of complete com-plete emancipation Irom meuul thraldom is breathed in every line; and in every civilized country were tyrants ruled, the inspiration of its sentences b:is animated the bosom ot s every lover of liberty. No wonder 3 then that men became entbusiastio when they contemplated removal "To the west, to the Laud of the Free!" To the land they had dreamed of as a country where no one dared to persecute men for conscience' sake; i where men of every faith would find an asylum from every oppression, beneatn tt:e banner of civil aud religious reli-gious liberty ! And how correspondingly great is the disappointment aud indignation to find, now that the land of promise is reached, there is religious Ireedom only for those whose faith is orthodox, or who are willing to whisper Shibboleth Shib-boleth of men in power. To realize that to be, and avow oneself a Latter-day Latter-day Saint, is to be the signal of insult in our law courts, and a denial of civil rights. Every patriot, every philanthropist, every Christian wno has the spirit of his master, every one unacquainted . with the doings iu our courts for naturalization would be disposed to doubt tuat aliens cannot get their 1 rights without resorting to stratagems wnich no conscientious person would i resort to, to conceal his rengious convictions con-victions or present false testimony respecting his status, before the court to obtaiu his first papers as a citizen! This is tantamount to proscription to the Mormon! History is repeating itself in this remote province of this youthful republic. Tue practices of tne times of "Good Queen Bess," scd the -sacred Charles, have returned! "Heresy," another name for difference differ-ence ot religious opinion, is a practical barrier to the alien to obtaining that which wag promised him by implication implica-tion before ae trod on American soil ihe rights of citizanehip. Let it be known to the world there is cue creed that has not toleration here; that notwithstanding notwith-standing the praises sounded in the ears and paraded before the eyes of the several nationalities, this republic has retrograded to the condition society was in when there were pains and penalties attached to hereby ! Not quite so far as men dared to do in tbose days, when, to quote the words of the statute 35 Elizabeth, "loose who do not conform in three months nre to abjure the realm, or if they retuse do so, cr return (recani) a lwr abjuration, ab-juration, they shall be hanged." I And now the descendants of those who fled from tyranny of this kind, sons ef the founders of the colonies, colo-nies, and of the fatbers ot this republic, re-public, are mimicking the practices :of men who, however unjust, had the color of law for their practices in statutes Iodr since modified or re-Dealed: re-Dealed: in countries where the battle for liberty has been fought, and fought successlully against sectarian prejudice preju-dice and governmental despotism; where the alien from every country can obtain his civil rights and liberties, whatever may be bU religious persuasion per-suasion or belief. SrLKXDiD Malt Vinegar, for pickling, pick-ling, just arrived at eCO G. F. BaooKs- W. LONGMORE, MERCHANT TAILOR, (late of Cowley A Co.) An assortment ot IMPORTED and DO MEST1C Goods on Hand. No. SO Kimball Block. MS Guns, Pistols, Ammunition, Fishing Tackle, Cutlery, Cut-lery, etc, etc., can be had of the best quality and at low pbices from HECSSER BROS. All kinds ol REPAIKLNQ tromitly attended to. Lovers of Ride Shooting should not fail to call and try their skill at the shooting: gallery; it is the best in town. oil |